Iraq hailed the return to power of Venezuelan populist Hugo Chavez on Sunday as a "victory against American conspiracy."
The U.S. had clearly not been pleased to see the comeback of Chavez after Friday's military coup. It disliked his leftist policies and his connections with leaders like Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
But in a fast and surprising turn of events, Chavez returned in triumph to his presidential palace on Sunday after an interim government collapsed in the face of a rebellion by loyalist troops and massive protests. "Today we are celebrating a new democracy," said one man who took a microphone to greet Chavez.
"I would like to congratulate the friendly Venezuelan people for their victory against the American conspiracy," Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz told reporters.
Aziz said the United States would "fail not only in Venezuela but in all parts of the world", in a reference to U.S. attempts to overthrow Saddam.
Chavez visited Iraq last year and met Saddam, the first meeting of a head of state with the Iraqi leader since the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
